1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,740 My Outro For My 20th Birthday 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:42,640 Coming up on destination tomorrow, a unique ballistic parachute system might help pilots 3 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:48,040 and passengers potentially survive a catastrophic accident, and we visit the Andoya Rocket Range 4 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:53,160 in Andenese, Norway to find out how NASA is investigating the Northern Lights, plus we'll 5 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:57,840 take a look back at how NASA research helped change the shape of America's air superiority 6 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:02,880 in World War II, and Johnny Alonzo finds out how air traffic controllers keep a watchful eye 7 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,520 on our skies at all times. All this and more next on Destination Tomorrow. 8 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:17,280 Hello everyone, I'm Steele McGonigal, and I'm Kara O'Brien, and welcome to Destination Tomorrow. 9 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,080 This program will uncover how past, present, and future research is creating today's knowledge 10 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:27,040 to answer the questions and solve the challenges of tomorrow. The Northern Lights are a celestial 11 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:32,440 phenomenon that have amazed people for centuries. The scientific name for the phenomenon is Aurora 12 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:38,000 Borealis, which is Latin and translates into the Red Dawn of the North. Although they are 13 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:43,160 incredible to watch, the particles that make up the auroras are actually a type of electricity 14 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:49,320 that can cause electrical surges and disrupt satellite operations in space and communications 15 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,680 here on Earth. To better understand these problems, NASA has been working with researchers 16 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:58,280 and engineers at the Andoya Rocket Range in Andenes, Norway. Sophisticated rockets 17 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,980 are launched into the atmosphere to collect valuable data that might explain the secrets 18 00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:06,840 of the auroras. Jennifer Fully spoke with Dr. Stan Odenwall at the Andoya Rocket Range 19 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:13,840 in Andenes, Norway, to find out more. 20 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:20,840 The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is one of the most beautiful, natural-occurring 21 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,160 phenomena known to man. These shimmering currents of light, which are normally seen near the 22 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:37,960 Arctic Circle, have intrigued and inspired observers for thousands of years. Until the 23 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,040 late 19th century, many still believed that the Northern Lights were driven by supernatural 24 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,600 means rather than by natural means. Although these old beliefs are intriguing, we now know 25 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:54,920 that the auroras are actually caused by energized particles colliding with the Earth's magnetosphere. 26 00:02:54,920 --> 00:03:00,000 Until recently, the auroras had little direct impact on life here on Earth. But with almost 27 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,200 every person on the planet now relying on satellites and electricity as part of their 28 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,640 daily lives, the need to understand auroral activity has increased. This is because those 29 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:15,000 same particles that collide with the magnetosphere to create the Northern Lights can also severely 30 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:20,920 damage important satellites and cause outages in electrical power grids around the world. 31 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:25,400 In an effort to better understand these events, NASA is using innovative technologies to learn 32 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,680 more about the Northern Lights and how they affect us here on Earth. I spoke with NASA 33 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,640 Goddard's Dr. Stan Odenwall here at the Andoya Rocket Range in Andenes, Norway, to find out 34 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:40,540 more. It's a very complicated process that leads to an aurora. Once you see it, the whole 35 00:03:40,540 --> 00:03:44,440 process is sort of hidden from view. You know, we understand a little bit about how the particles 36 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,800 get from the outer parts of the magnetic field of the Earth and into the atmosphere, but 37 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,640 we don't see the details. You know, how the particles go from one kind of a system into 38 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,320 another, how they get boosted in energy. Even at this late stage, we don't exactly know 39 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:02,560 what the particles are that produce the aurora. Tracking them from where they're produced 40 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,800 and where they're energized, all the way down to the atmosphere, is still something 41 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,560 of a mystery. And that's why we have satellite and rocket experiments that are trying to 42 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,880 fill in those missing pieces of the puzzle. To understand why it is important to study 43 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:20,320 the Northern Lights, we must first understand how they work. The sun is constantly emitting 44 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:25,040 streams of electrically charged particles in all directions. This stream of charged 45 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:30,880 particles is called the solar wind. Since the sun is 93 million miles away, it takes 46 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:36,320 about three days for the particles to reach Earth. As the solar winds flow by the Earth, 47 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:42,860 it causes a disturbance in the Earth's magnetosphere. This disturbance energizes currents of particles 48 00:04:42,860 --> 00:04:48,660 which are steered by magnetic forces towards the Earth's poles. These energized particles 49 00:04:48,660 --> 00:04:53,560 collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in our atmosphere, which produce the colorful 50 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:59,020 light that we see in the aurora. Although beautiful to watch, these currents of particles 51 00:04:59,020 --> 00:05:04,700 are actually a form of electricity, which can generate up to 800 gigawatts of electrical 52 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:10,320 power. This electrical energy flowing in the upper atmosphere can cause currents to flow 53 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:16,740 in the ground, producing disruptions in communication, electrical outages, and fuel leaks. The high 54 00:05:16,740 --> 00:05:22,620 energy particles flowing in space that often accompany these storms can also hit satellites, 55 00:05:22,620 --> 00:05:28,020 damaging their sensitive electronics, and creating false commands. This can wreak havoc 56 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:33,780 on television, pager, and other communication services here on Earth. NASA researchers hope 57 00:05:33,780 --> 00:05:38,780 to find new ways to predict not only when these storms will hit Earth, but also hope 58 00:05:38,780 --> 00:05:43,580 to find ways to reduce their destructive effects when they do. What are some of the tools you 59 00:05:43,580 --> 00:05:49,580 use to study the northern lights? We have satellites that seem to be able to look at 60 00:05:49,580 --> 00:05:53,540 everything that goes on with a solar storm and the production of aurora, literally from 61 00:05:53,540 --> 00:05:58,980 cradle to grave. We have satellites that watch the solar surface for the big leaps 62 00:05:58,980 --> 00:06:03,260 of matter and energy. We've got satellites that look at the wind in between the planets 63 00:06:03,260 --> 00:06:08,540 to watch what that's doing. We also have satellites that are in tighter orbits to the Earth, so 64 00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:13,380 that they can look at the poles of the Earth and see the aurora happen. They can also measure 65 00:06:13,380 --> 00:06:17,420 electric fields in space and magnetic fields in space, so they can also see the invisible 66 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:22,980 flows of particles around the Earth. And then finally, we have rockets that go up into the 67 00:06:22,980 --> 00:06:26,940 aurora from the bottom at the same time that the satellites are passing overhead, so we 68 00:06:26,940 --> 00:06:32,220 can kind of see the physics in between flows of particles inwards and the rockets see the 69 00:06:32,220 --> 00:06:37,300 electrical fields that are set up by these things. And we get this complete picture from 70 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:42,100 rockets and satellite observations. So why is Norway such a popular place to study the 71 00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:47,740 northern lights? It turns out that Norway is in a place that's very favorably located 72 00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:52,660 to actually see the aurora directly overhead. So you can launch the rockets directly up 73 00:06:52,660 --> 00:06:56,700 very quickly to get into the aurora at the time that they're changing. Dr. Odenwald, 74 00:06:56,700 --> 00:07:01,100 how do you think NASA research is helping us better understand the aurora and its impact 75 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:05,740 on Earth? Well, NASA's invested an awful lot of time and effort into providing scientists 76 00:07:05,740 --> 00:07:11,140 with the technology and equipment they need to really make powerful and insightful discoveries 77 00:07:11,140 --> 00:07:16,580 about how aurora work. And that feeds into our knowledge of the environment that we live 78 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:22,180 in in space and how that affects human technology, our billions of dollars of satellites that 79 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:28,060 we have there, the health of astronauts because of the energetic particles. It all works together. 80 00:07:28,060 --> 00:07:34,980 And if we can deeply understand space weather effects with the help of NASA technology, 81 00:07:34,980 --> 00:07:38,380 it's going to be much easier for us to operate in space. And that's the direction that we 82 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:44,900 want to go as a civilization. Auroras occur around both the northern and southern geomagnetic 83 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:49,180 poles. While the northern lights are known as the aurora borealis, the southern lights 84 00:07:49,180 --> 00:07:53,820 are referred to as the aurora australis. Coming up, we'll find out about an innovative 85 00:07:53,820 --> 00:07:58,380 new parachute system which is attached to the plane rather than the person inside. But 86 00:07:58,380 --> 00:08:03,020 first, did you know that solar flares can be very dangerous to astronauts outside the 87 00:08:03,020 --> 00:08:09,020 Earth's atmosphere? In August 1972, an intense solar proton event occurred between the flights 88 00:08:09,020 --> 00:08:14,140 of Apollo 16 and 17. If the Apollo 17 astronauts had been on the way to the moon during that 89 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:18,940 time, the astronauts would have absorbed lethal doses of radiation within 10 hours of being 90 00:08:18,940 --> 00:08:27,140 exposed. Currently, there are well over 250,000 active general aviation airplanes around the 91 00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:32,420 world. These small aircraft are not only a very popular form of transportation, but are 92 00:08:32,420 --> 00:08:38,620 also relatively safe. Unfortunately, about one in every 300 of these planes are involved 93 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:44,140 in an accident every year. To make general aviation flying safer, NASA has funded an 94 00:08:44,140 --> 00:08:49,700 innovative new parachute recovery system, which, when deployed, may actually allow pilots 95 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:56,700 to walk away from what could have been a catastrophic accident. Tonya St. Romain finds out more. 96 00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:04,980 The sight of small aircraft flying around our skies is a familiar one to most of us. 97 00:09:04,980 --> 00:09:11,460 These small general aviation, or GA, planes are favorites of private pilots, small businesses, 98 00:09:11,460 --> 00:09:16,940 and flight schools because of their relative low costs and the freedom they provide. Although 99 00:09:16,940 --> 00:09:22,700 these aircraft are very safe, about 1,600 of them are involved in accidents every year, 100 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:28,220 and quite often, these accidents can be fatal. In an effort to prevent many of these accidents 101 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:34,900 from becoming fatal, NASA has funded an innovative program which uses a ballistic parachute mounted 102 00:09:34,900 --> 00:09:41,380 on the plane, which, when deployed, can actually save the plane and the passengers from a catastrophic 103 00:09:41,380 --> 00:09:47,100 accident. I spoke with Lisa Jones at NASA Langley Research Center to find out more. 104 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:50,700 Parachute recovery systems are not new. They've been used to return our astronauts from the 105 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:54,980 moon, the Apollo program, for instance. They've been applied to the military aircraft, such 106 00:09:54,980 --> 00:09:59,280 as the F-11 Crew Escape Module. It floats down on a parachute recovery system. Now they're 107 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:04,660 being applied to general aviation aircraft, and in the structural designs, this is a good 108 00:10:04,660 --> 00:10:08,940 way to save money and weight because you can actually design a structure to support the 109 00:10:08,940 --> 00:10:10,300 parachute system. 110 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:15,340 The parachute works like this. During an emergency event, if the pilot feels that he's 111 00:10:15,340 --> 00:10:20,780 about to lose control of the aircraft or has lost control, he must turn off the engine 112 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:26,340 and simply pull firmly on the parachute release handle located above his head. The parachute, 113 00:10:26,340 --> 00:10:30,940 which is propelled by a solid-fuel rocket motor, is released from a special opening 114 00:10:30,940 --> 00:10:36,540 on top of the fuselage. Three Kevlar straps connect the parachute to the airframe and 115 00:10:36,540 --> 00:10:43,540 help slow the aircraft, guiding it through a level descent. 116 00:10:46,660 --> 00:10:52,860 Although the parachute system already has 155 saves with ultralight aircraft, the first 117 00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:58,300 save in a general aviation plane came in October of 2002, with the aircraft suffering little 118 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:02,620 damage and the pilot walking away from the crash with no injuries at all. 119 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:07,900 So Lisa, is this parachute system just for new aircraft, or can it be retrofitted on 120 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:09,460 older planes? 121 00:11:09,460 --> 00:11:14,260 Parachute system design can be incorporated into older aircraft designs. You just would 122 00:11:14,260 --> 00:11:18,380 have to do some modifications to the structure, make sure that the structure could handle 123 00:11:18,380 --> 00:11:23,980 the loads the system puts on the airframe, and also be certified for it. 124 00:11:23,980 --> 00:11:28,340 Lisa, what are some situations where a pilot would need to use this device? 125 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:31,500 Well, as the pilot can tell you, there are many times when things will go bad quickly 126 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:36,980 when flying. So there are many different scenarios where this system may be deployed. 127 00:11:36,980 --> 00:11:41,980 Some situations where a parachute recovery system could be used are loss of control of 128 00:11:41,980 --> 00:11:47,580 the aircraft due to icing, engine failure, and airframe structural failure. 129 00:11:47,580 --> 00:11:54,140 One of the most common causes of general aviation aircraft accidents is pilot disorientation. 130 00:11:54,140 --> 00:12:00,340 Many pilots are only rated to operate an aircraft under visual flight rules, or VFR. 131 00:12:00,340 --> 00:12:06,180 But in order to fly in bad weather, a pilot should also be able to fly under IFR, or instrument 132 00:12:06,180 --> 00:12:07,420 flight rules. 133 00:12:07,420 --> 00:12:12,080 If a visual flight rules rated pilot encounters weather where he can't see visual landmarks 134 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:18,500 outside the plane, then spatial disorientation can occur. When this happens, the pilot literally 135 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:23,740 cannot determine if his plane's in level flight, or if it's turning or banking. 136 00:12:23,740 --> 00:12:29,180 Very frequently, the VFR pilot will rely on his instincts rather than his instruments, 137 00:12:29,180 --> 00:12:32,420 which can lead to a catastrophic outcome. 138 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:36,860 With the parachute recovery system on board, no matter what the situation, the pilot has 139 00:12:36,860 --> 00:12:42,940 one last best option to save not only the aircraft, but most importantly, the lives 140 00:12:42,940 --> 00:12:44,580 of everyone on board. 141 00:12:44,580 --> 00:12:48,340 I know this is being used for general aviation aircraft, but is there a chance that it could 142 00:12:48,340 --> 00:12:49,980 be used on larger planes? 143 00:12:49,980 --> 00:12:54,940 I think it can be applied to some of the business jets, where you're talking about 10, 12, 14 144 00:12:54,940 --> 00:13:00,700 passenger perhaps. That would have to be really investigated closely. But for application 145 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:05,340 to a transport, you're not going to see that. The structural requirements for the aircraft 146 00:13:05,340 --> 00:13:10,020 would be enormous to handle that, as well as the design characteristics for the chute 147 00:13:10,020 --> 00:13:14,620 itself to be able to take the energy of a large transport. So you're not going to be 148 00:13:14,620 --> 00:13:19,820 able to use this efficiently on anything of much size greater than a general aviation 149 00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:20,820 aircraft. 150 00:13:20,820 --> 00:13:24,020 So Lisa, why is NASA working on this type of project? 151 00:13:24,020 --> 00:13:28,980 NASA has a program called the Aviation Safety Program. And in that, we're looking at different 152 00:13:28,980 --> 00:13:33,420 types of things to improve safety everywhere. Some of that in the early part of the program 153 00:13:33,420 --> 00:13:37,700 is focused on general aviation. There are a thousand lives a year lost to general aviation 154 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:42,700 accidents. And this type of system can really improve those numbers and hopefully get those 155 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:56,340 numbers down, where we see a lot more people walking away from accidents. 156 00:13:56,340 --> 00:14:01,300 When looking back at American fighter planes of World War II, an impressive record of aerial 157 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:06,260 victory stands out. This is especially true in the later stages of the war, when American 158 00:14:06,260 --> 00:14:12,020 air superiority dominated both the Pacific and European combat theaters. But surprisingly, 159 00:14:12,020 --> 00:14:16,220 this was not the case in the beginning stages of the war. Early American fighters could 160 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:21,300 not always match the speed and maneuverability of the enemy aircraft that they were facing. 161 00:14:21,300 --> 00:14:26,060 To help find a way to improve the aircraft American pilots were flying, U.S. military 162 00:14:26,060 --> 00:14:31,140 planners turned to NASA's predecessor, NACA, which they hoped could find a way to help 163 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:35,780 the United States gain air superiority over World War II's battlefields. 164 00:14:35,780 --> 00:14:40,740 On the eve of World War II, with the prospect of war looming in the United States, military 165 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:45,220 planners began an exhaustive look at the preparedness and equipment that it would use to fight a 166 00:14:45,220 --> 00:14:50,780 war. One area where the United States had fallen noticeably behind to its future enemies 167 00:14:50,780 --> 00:14:56,220 was in aircraft. Many of the aircraft that U.S. pilots were flying were much slower and 168 00:14:56,220 --> 00:15:00,700 less maneuverable than the aircraft that they would soon be facing in combat. With this 169 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:05,420 knowledge in hand, a concerted effort was made by the U.S. government to find ways to 170 00:15:05,420 --> 00:15:11,400 quickly improve the American aircraft situation. Since NASA's predecessor, NACA, or the National 171 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,900 Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, was the preeminent aeronautics lab in the country, 172 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:20,980 a large part of this examination fell to them. NACA researchers knew that they could improve 173 00:15:20,980 --> 00:15:26,460 an aircraft's performance by simply reducing the amount of drag the aircraft experienced. 174 00:15:26,460 --> 00:15:29,220 This was called drag cleanup. 175 00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:34,260 The Navy's XF-2A Brewster Buffalo was the first of many military aircraft tested by 176 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:39,900 NACA in an effort to improve performance. Researchers at the NACA Langley Research Center 177 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:45,340 took only five days to determine several key areas in which the Buffalo could be improved. 178 00:15:45,340 --> 00:15:50,420 To the untrained eye, the Buffalo appeared aerodynamically clean. However, the wind tunnel 179 00:15:50,420 --> 00:15:55,520 information showed a very different picture. Many parts, like the gun sights, the engine 180 00:15:55,520 --> 00:16:00,620 cowling and landing gear on the Buffalo, protruded into the slipstream, causing increased drag 181 00:16:00,740 --> 00:16:05,060 which slowed the aircraft tremendously. The researchers at NACA modified these problem 182 00:16:05,060 --> 00:16:11,020 areas, which increased the Buffalo's speed by an impressive 10 percent. Such a performance 183 00:16:11,020 --> 00:16:16,060 improvement without raising engine power or reducing fuel efficiency immediately caught 184 00:16:16,060 --> 00:16:20,980 the eye of many aircraft designers. Extra speed for a fighter plane, even as little 185 00:16:20,980 --> 00:16:27,260 as 15 miles per hour, could determine who won or lost in an aerial dogfight. 186 00:16:27,260 --> 00:16:32,260 When Langley researchers streamlined the U.S. Navy's F-4F Wildcat, it was able to fly 187 00:16:32,260 --> 00:16:40,120 a full 45 miles per hour faster. The F-4F's successor, the F-6F Hellcat, was also streamlined, 188 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:45,420 making it faster and more maneuverable, able to reach a maximum speed of 375 miles per 189 00:16:45,420 --> 00:16:50,860 hour. This extra speed proved valuable in combat, allowing Hellcat pilots to destroy 190 00:16:50,860 --> 00:16:56,740 nearly 5,000 enemy planes in aerial engagements. 191 00:16:56,740 --> 00:17:00,980 NACA Langley proved a key stopping point for dozens of aircraft on their way to combat 192 00:17:00,980 --> 00:17:07,980 duty in World War II. During one month alone in July 1944, 36 U.S. Army and Navy planes 193 00:17:07,980 --> 00:17:14,260 were evaluated in detailed studies of stability, control and performance. NACA Langley tested 194 00:17:14,260 --> 00:17:21,260 137 different airplane types between 1941 and 1945, either in wind tunnels or in flight. 195 00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:26,700 While NACA's pioneering drag cleanup work helped save the lives of many American pilots 196 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:32,580 during World War II, it also shortened the war considerably and saved the lives of countless 197 00:17:32,580 --> 00:17:39,660 others around the world. During the World War II era, NACA researchers also worked on 198 00:17:39,660 --> 00:17:44,700 a series of wing designs called the Low Drag Series. These wing designs were so successful 199 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:48,900 in improving aircraft performance that they are still being used by airplane designers 200 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:54,100 today. Coming up, we find out how new satellites may help scientists better understand the 201 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:58,460 Earth's atmosphere. But first, did you know that Charles Lindbergh shot down a Japanese 202 00:17:58,460 --> 00:18:03,300 fighter in World War II? Although Lindbergh was not in the military, he was secretly asked 203 00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:07,700 to teach American pilots how to increase the range of their P-38 Lightnings. During a training 204 00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:13,780 mission on July 28, 1944, Lindbergh encountered a Japanese Sonja aircraft. As the Sonja turned 205 00:18:13,780 --> 00:18:20,700 to attack, Lindbergh fired a short burst, sending the Sonja down in flames. Understanding 206 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:25,860 the Earth's atmosphere can be very difficult. A mixture of global weather patterns, greenhouse 207 00:18:25,860 --> 00:18:31,820 gases and airborne particles can make the overall picture for scientists very confusing. 208 00:18:31,820 --> 00:18:36,500 To help provide a better picture of how all of these variables affect the Earth's atmosphere, 209 00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:41,420 NASA researchers are developing new atmospheric satellite systems. These new systems will 210 00:18:41,420 --> 00:18:45,660 not only work to provide a better understanding of the Earth's atmosphere, but will lead to 211 00:18:45,660 --> 00:18:52,660 better prediction models. Stephanie Nevin finds out more. 212 00:18:55,420 --> 00:19:00,460 In recent years, researchers have seen an alarming warming trend in the global climate. 213 00:19:00,460 --> 00:19:05,260 Reports of increasing temperatures, thinning glaciers and rising sea levels have led to 214 00:19:05,260 --> 00:19:10,340 widespread speculation that global warming is being caused by greenhouse gases that result 215 00:19:10,340 --> 00:19:14,900 from man's activities. Climate models that predict the Earth's future climate patterns 216 00:19:14,900 --> 00:19:19,460 indicate that global warming could continue to increase if the concentration of greenhouse 217 00:19:19,460 --> 00:19:24,340 gases in the atmosphere continues to rise. Even though these climate models are powerful 218 00:19:24,340 --> 00:19:28,740 tools in predicting future global climate, a more detailed understanding of clouds and 219 00:19:28,740 --> 00:19:33,820 aerosols could lead to more accurate climate prediction models. Researchers may be able 220 00:19:33,820 --> 00:19:38,860 to determine why the climate is warming, if it is being affected by greenhouse gases and 221 00:19:38,860 --> 00:19:43,780 what we can do to change it. That is why researchers at NASA are preparing six innovative 222 00:19:43,780 --> 00:19:48,780 satellite systems, which, when launched, will provide key information about the Earth's 223 00:19:48,780 --> 00:19:54,460 atmosphere. Two of these satellites, CALYPSO and CLOUDSAT, will focus primarily on aerosols 224 00:19:54,460 --> 00:19:59,300 and cloud structures, providing much more information about how clouds and aerosols 225 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:04,140 interact with each other and how they are affecting the atmosphere's radiation balance. 226 00:20:04,140 --> 00:20:08,540 I spoke with Vermont Poole at NASA Langley Research Center to find out more. 227 00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:13,380 It's important to study clouds and airborne particles, which we call aerosols, because 228 00:20:13,380 --> 00:20:17,900 both of them have significant effects on the Earth's climate, just like greenhouse gases, 229 00:20:17,900 --> 00:20:24,180 such as carbon dioxide. But unlike greenhouse gases, which warm the planet, airborne particles 230 00:20:24,180 --> 00:20:29,700 and clouds can either have a warming effect or a cooling effect, depending on their type 231 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:35,020 and their altitude. Because of these complicating factors, it's very difficult to represent 232 00:20:35,020 --> 00:20:40,420 cloud and aerosol processes accurately in climate models that are used to forecast 233 00:20:40,420 --> 00:20:46,500 the climate in the future. So the data that we will be collecting from CLOUDSAT and CALYPSO 234 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:51,500 will provide a much more accurate picture of cloud and aerosol processes. 235 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,700 So what are the differences between the CALYPSO and CLOUDSAT satellites? 236 00:20:54,700 --> 00:21:00,060 They're going to be launched on the same rocket, and when they get to altitude, they will separate 237 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:06,380 into different, very closely matched orbits. In fact, as CALYPSO and CLOUDSAT orbit the 238 00:21:06,380 --> 00:21:10,700 Earth, they will be within 10 to 15 seconds of each other in their orbit. 239 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:15,740 CLOUDSAT and CALYPSO are going to be flying as part of a formation of satellites that's 240 00:21:15,740 --> 00:21:19,860 called the Afternoon Constellation, or the A-Train for short. 241 00:21:19,860 --> 00:21:24,660 The A-Train will actually consist of six separate satellites flying in close proximity to one 242 00:21:24,660 --> 00:21:30,140 another. Once in orbit, each satellite will cross the equator within minutes of one another, 243 00:21:30,140 --> 00:21:35,660 taking specific atmospheric measurements. Although each satellite has a unique mission, 244 00:21:35,660 --> 00:21:40,260 the data retrieved will be combined together, providing detailed observations about the 245 00:21:40,260 --> 00:21:44,500 condition of Earth and assisting scientists with making predictions related to climate 246 00:21:44,500 --> 00:21:47,580 change. By combining information from the different 247 00:21:47,580 --> 00:21:52,420 satellites, scientists will be able to gain much more information about the condition 248 00:21:52,420 --> 00:21:57,220 of the planet than they could from any single mission alone, greatly improving prediction 249 00:21:57,220 --> 00:22:00,540 capabilities. Once these systems are in place, what do 250 00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:04,580 you hope the outcome will be? Our ultimate goal is to provide accurate 251 00:22:04,580 --> 00:22:11,300 scientific information to decision makers and governments worldwide so that informed 252 00:22:11,300 --> 00:22:16,900 and balanced decisions on how to mitigate or adapt to climate change can be made. 253 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:21,180 And NASA's going to play a very crucial role in this process because of our capabilities 254 00:22:21,180 --> 00:22:28,180 in developing and flying new technologies such as CALYPSO and CLOUDSTED. 255 00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:34,140 NASA researchers are not only studying the Earth's atmosphere from space, but are also 256 00:22:34,140 --> 00:22:38,140 making airborne measurements by using specially adapted aircraft. 257 00:22:38,140 --> 00:22:43,120 By the year 2010, the FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration, estimates approximately one 258 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:46,820 billion passengers will travel on board commercial planes. 259 00:22:46,820 --> 00:22:51,380 As air travel increases, pilots are faced with more congestion on the ground and in 260 00:22:51,380 --> 00:22:54,060 the air. And while pilots are ultimately in control 261 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:58,260 of their own aircraft, it is the air traffic controllers who are directing them the moment 262 00:22:58,260 --> 00:23:03,660 the plane leaves the gate, keeping in constant communication as the plane travels en route. 263 00:23:03,660 --> 00:23:08,860 Our own Johnny Alonzo finds out how this complex system keeps our skies organized and our planes 264 00:23:08,860 --> 00:23:15,860 on schedule. During peak air travel times in the United 265 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:21,180 States, there are about 5,000 airplanes in the sky every hour, which is about 50,000 266 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:24,980 aircraft operating in our skies every day. From the time the plane pushes back from the 267 00:23:24,980 --> 00:23:29,660 gate until it arrives at the gate of its final destination, it is being handled by air traffic 268 00:23:29,660 --> 00:23:32,500 controllers. These controllers must coordinate the movements 269 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:37,060 of thousands of aircraft, keep them at safe distances from each other, and direct them 270 00:23:37,060 --> 00:23:41,220 during takeoff and landing from airports. Air traffic controllers are also responsible 271 00:23:41,220 --> 00:23:45,300 for directing aircraft around bad weather and ensuring that traffic flows with minimal 272 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:50,060 delay for both commercial and private aircraft. I spoke with Gary Laurel from NASA Langley 273 00:23:50,060 --> 00:23:53,740 to find out how it works. An air traffic controller is primarily tasked 274 00:23:53,740 --> 00:23:58,300 with separating airplanes. However, they do provide other services such as traffic advisories, 275 00:23:58,300 --> 00:24:03,580 weather information, and other status types of information for the National Airspace System. 276 00:24:03,580 --> 00:24:05,780 What are some of the tools used by air traffic controllers? 277 00:24:05,780 --> 00:24:10,860 The primary tool used by controllers for separation services is called RADAR, which stands for 278 00:24:10,860 --> 00:24:16,260 Radio Detection and Ranging. Essentially what happens is from an antenna, a radio beam 279 00:24:16,260 --> 00:24:21,940 is transmitted, it balances off the aircraft, and is returned to the radar antenna. There's 280 00:24:21,940 --> 00:24:26,740 a presentation on the radar display of which your position is based on that return. You 281 00:24:26,740 --> 00:24:29,940 can see behind us there's a display which is part of the radar system that controllers 282 00:24:29,940 --> 00:24:33,780 use and your position as well as the position of other aircraft in the system will be presented 283 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:39,940 on display and give the information the controller needs to provide air traffic services to you. 284 00:24:39,940 --> 00:24:42,460 Does one controller handle my plane while it's in the air? 285 00:24:42,460 --> 00:24:44,820 There are a number of controllers that will handle your flight as you move throughout 286 00:24:44,820 --> 00:24:49,420 the system. Once you depart, your flight will be handed off to yet another controller and 287 00:24:49,420 --> 00:24:53,940 that process continues throughout the duration of your flight. The primary delineation of 288 00:24:53,940 --> 00:24:58,900 what a controller is responsible for in a radar environment is called a sector. So as 289 00:24:58,900 --> 00:25:02,900 a controller works you through his or her sector, you'll be transferred to another sector 290 00:25:02,900 --> 00:25:07,120 where another controller will work you. All right, so Gary, walk me through this. What 291 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:10,960 happens from departure to arrival, from gate to gate? 292 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:15,000 Assuming there aren't any delays, you'll taxi out to your departure runway and there's a 293 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,240 controller that issues taxi instructions and deconflicts you from other airplanes on the 294 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:22,840 ground. There's a controller that will issue a takeoff clearance for you, and yet another 295 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:28,000 controller that will work you as you're climbing to your cruise altitude. As a matter of fact, 296 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,920 several controllers. As airplanes move from one sector to the next, there's a transfer 297 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:36,920 of what we call control, and there's a transfer of communications. So you'll be in communications 298 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,040 with each controller along the way. And this process continues all the way to your destination 299 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:45,680 airport, and you may talk to 10 or 15 different controllers and reach your destination. Prior 300 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,560 to descending into the terminal area at your destination airport, there are several controllers 301 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:54,960 involved in sequencing inbound to that airport and assigning the arrival runway. Once you 302 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:59,200 get there, you'll land, you'll taxi clear of the runway, and you'll be issued taxi instructions. 303 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,960 They'll take you right to your gate, but that's basically how the process works. 304 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,960 And I thought that the pilot was in control of the whole flight. 305 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:11,160 Well, the pilot is ultimately responsible for the safe operation of his or her airplane. 306 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:15,160 However, they are required to adhere to air traffic control instructions. Just like when 307 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,200 you're driving your car, there are certain signs along the way that basically tell you 308 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,600 what you're required to do. As you get to a busy intersection, you may have to slow 309 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,120 the car down. If there's a red light, you have to stop, because you're trying to accommodate 310 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:29,360 other cars, because you're not the only car out there. And that's pretty much the way 311 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:32,940 your air traffic control system works. There are control instructions that are issued because 312 00:26:32,940 --> 00:26:33,940 you're not the only airplane out there. 313 00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:34,940 Do you get tickets? 314 00:26:34,940 --> 00:26:35,940 Sometimes. 315 00:26:35,940 --> 00:26:36,940 Sometimes. 316 00:26:39,940 --> 00:26:43,940 So, in the future, will air traffic control be much different than it is today? 317 00:26:43,940 --> 00:26:47,940 I think so. We're, of course, not building more airports. We're not building many more 318 00:26:47,940 --> 00:26:51,940 runways either, so we have to optimize the use of the facilities that we currently have. 319 00:26:51,940 --> 00:26:56,940 And to that end, NASA's looking at cutting-edge concepts and technologies to make better utilization 320 00:26:56,940 --> 00:27:00,940 of those facilities, both in terms of capacity, that is to say the number of airplanes you 321 00:27:00,940 --> 00:27:06,940 can get in and out of an airport at a given time, and safety as well. And these are just 322 00:27:06,940 --> 00:27:10,940 some of the concepts that have been explored by NASA and continue to be explored. 323 00:27:10,940 --> 00:27:15,940 Really. How do you change the channel on this? I mean, do you have cable on this thing? 324 00:27:15,940 --> 00:27:19,940 That's all for this edition of Destination Tomorrow. Thank you for joining us. 325 00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:20,940 I'm Steele McGonigal. 326 00:27:20,940 --> 00:27:24,940 And I'm Kara O'Brien. For all of us here at NASA, we'll see you next time. 327 00:27:30,940 --> 00:27:37,940 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 328 00:28:00,940 --> 00:28:09,940 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 329 00:28:30,940 --> 00:28:36,940 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology